The presence of nutrients in snowmelt runoff from agricultural watersheds has been reported by previous studies. However, no study has answered the most important question what areas of the watershed contribute nutrients to snowmelt runoff? or addressed the factors that control snowmelt runoff water quality. This study was designed to (1) find the areas that contribute nutrient to snowmelt runoff (termed as critical source areas, CSA), and (2) understand the source and transport factors that control the snowmelt runoff water quality in the Canadian prairies. The findings of this study will provide vital information to understand snowmelt runoff water quality and for sustainable management of soil nutrients and snowmelt runoff water quality in the Canadian prairies. <p>Source and transport factors and snowmelt runoff water quality were studied for two years on shoulder, backslope and footslope landform segments. The distribution of fall soil nutrients in the top 5 cm soil layer (available soil P [ASP], nitrate [NO3-] and ammonium [NH4+]), snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), snowmelt runoff and snowmelt runoff water quality (total P [TP], total dissolved P [TDP], NO3-N and sediment) were studied using closed and open plots placed on each landform segment. The influence of source and transport factors was evaluated in relation to snowmelt runoff water quality. <p>The ASP had a distribution pattern of backslope < shoulder < footslope in 2003 before manure application (bma) and shoulder = backslope = footslope in 2004. The NO3- distributed as shoulder = backslope = footslope in 2003 (bma) and shoulder < backslope < footslope in 2004. However, NH4+ had a stable distribution of shoulder = backslope < footslope in 2003 bma and in 2004. The pre-melt SWE increased in the down slope direction having the lowest in the shoulder and backslope and the highest in the footslope in 2005. The average daily snowmelt runoff from 1 m2 plots did not vary between the shoulder and the backslope. Infiltration was dominant in 2004 while runoff was dominant in 2005. Of the three landform segments, the shoulder was the greatest contributor of runoff to the depression. The backslope contributed the least. <p>Hog manure injection did not seem to influence snowmelt runoff water quality. Most nutrients and sediments were from the land surface. Analysis revealed that fall soil nutrient concentrations were not a dominant factor controlling the nutrients in the snowmelt runoff in this site. However, snowmelt runoff volume controlled snowmelt runoff water quality. Snowmelt runoff water quality did not vary between the landform segments. However, as a result of the dominance of shoulder in this landscape, the total transport of nutrients and sediment was the highest from shoulder. Where landform characteristics are similar to the study watershed, it may be argued that all landform segments are CSA. Runoff volume is the most influential factor in determining the importance of CSA and controlling the snowmelt runoff water quality.

The presence of nutrients in snowmelt runoff from agricultural watersheds has been reported by previous studies. However, no study has answered the most important question what areas of the watershed contribute nutrients to snowmelt runoff? or addressed the factors that control snowmelt runoff water quality. This study was designed to (1) find the areas that contribute nutrient to snowmelt runoff (termed as critical source areas, CSA), and (2) understand the source and transport factors that control the snowmelt runoff water quality in the Canadian prairies. The findings of this study will provide vital information to understand snowmelt runoff water quality and for sustainable management of soil nutrients and snowmelt runoff water quality in the Canadian prairies. <p>Source and transport factors and snowmelt runoff water quality were studied for two years on shoulder, backslope and footslope landform segments. The distribution of fall soil nutrients in the top 5 cm soil layer (available soil P [ASP], nitrate [NO3-] and ammonium [NH4+]), snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), snowmelt runoff and snowmelt runoff water quality (total P [TP], total dissolved P [TDP], NO3-N and sediment) were studied using closed and open plots placed on each landform segment. The influence of source and transport factors was evaluated in relation to snowmelt runoff water quality. <p>The ASP had a distribution pattern of backslope < shoulder < footslope in 2003 before manure application (bma) and shoulder = backslope = footslope in 2004. The NO3- distributed as shoulder = backslope = footslope in 2003 (bma) and shoulder < backslope < footslope in 2004. However, NH4+ had a stable distribution of shoulder = backslope < footslope in 2003 bma and in 2004. The pre-melt SWE increased in the down slope direction having the lowest in the shoulder and backslope and the highest in the footslope in 2005. The average daily snowmelt runoff from 1 m2 plots did not vary between the shoulder and the backslope. Infiltration was dominant in 2004 while runoff was dominant in 2005. Of the three landform segments, the shoulder was the greatest contributor of runoff to the depression. The backslope contributed the least. <p>Hog manure injection did not seem to influence snowmelt runoff water quality. Most nutrients and sediments were from the land surface. Analysis revealed that fall soil nutrient concentrations were not a dominant factor controlling the nutrients in the snowmelt runoff in this site. However, snowmelt runoff volume controlled snowmelt runoff water quality. Snowmelt runoff water quality did not vary between the landform segments. However, as a result of the dominance of shoulder in this landscape, the total transport of nutrients and sediment was the highest from shoulder. Where landform characteristics are similar to the study watershed, it may be argued that all landform segments are CSA. Runoff volume is the most influential factor in determining the importance of CSA and controlling the snowmelt runoff water quality.

Critical Source Areas (CSAs) of phosphorus (P) are areas within a watershed that have a high propensity to export P to surface waters. CSAs contain two factors: source and transport factors. Source factors include soil P status and fertilizer and manure inputs, while transport factors include hydrologic and erosion processes that mobilize P. The aim of this study was to: 1) identify CSAs of P in an agricultural watershed and the stormflow dynamics controlling P export and 2) to delineate CSAs of P at the agricultural field scale using georeferenced soil test P (STP) and a digital elevation model (DEM) in a geographic information system (GIS). Soil test P (STP) along with dissolved reactive P (DRP), particulate P (PP), and total P (TP) in soil water, groundwater, and surface runoff were monitored in three small (< 8 ha) agricultural watersheds located in Decatur, Illinois, each situated within a separate experimental field. Further, volumetric water content (VWC) was continuously monitored on topographic positions, e.g. foot slopes, hill slopes, and shoulder slopes, to determine topographic position influence on soil moisture distribution. Repeated measures mixed models analysis showed that foot slopes (32.2%) had significantly higher VWC than hill slope (29.6%) and shoulder slopes (30.9%) during the growing season, while foot slopes (38.9%) and hill slopes (38.9%) had significantly higher VWC than shoulder slopes (34.9%) during the dormant season. Persistent shallow groundwater tables were implicated to control spatial and temporal VWC moisture distribution. Both foot slopes and hill slopes were implicated as transport areas. Repeated measures mixed models analysis also showed that foot slopes (73 kg ha&minus1) had significantly higher STP than hill slopes (28.9 kg ha&minus1) and shoulder slopes (33.8 kg ha&minus1) most likely due to the erosion and deposition of sediment from upper slopes to lower slopes. Foot slopes were consequently classified as source areas. A surface runoff event revealed near stream saturation and flushing of soil moisture from upper slopes to lower slopes, indicating that the watersheds are variable source area driven. The peak of PP on the rising limb of the hydrograph was attributed to near stream sediment mobility while the peak of DRP on the falling limb was attributed to flushing of upper slope soil moisture via subsurface flow. GIS delineation of CSAs at the agricultural field scale was conducted to pinpoint precise locations within a field to implement precision P management. The topographic position index (TPI) along with a modified version of the slope classification model &mdash both of which were created by Weiss (2001) and automated by Jenness (2006) &mdash were used to delineate foot slopes, hill slopes, shoulder slopes, and flat areas within a 91.2 ha agricultural field from a DEM. Transport factors were, again, identified as foot slopes and hill slopes. Further, georeferenced STP data collected in spring 2010, fall 2010, and fall 2011 were averaged and interpolated using ordinary kriging to generate a single surface that represented three year spatial soil P status within the agricultural field. Source factors were identified as areas in the field that were excessive in soil P for corn-soybean production. A CSA model was created that identified areas where both source factors and transport factors overlapped. CSAs of P occurred on 2.3 ha of the agricultural field and occurred near grass waterways and roadside drainage ditches. A one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) along with a Tukey mean separation procedure of soil P on the four topographic positions was used to characterize soil P spatial dependencies on landscape attributes associated with topographic position. Foot slopes (79.5 kg ha&minus1) and flat areas (92.9 kg ha&minus1) had significantly greater soil P than hill slopes (59.8 kg ha&minus1) and shoulder slopes (49.8 kg ha&minus1) due to depositional and sink attributes. Depositional attributes exhibit concave curvature, e.g. foot slopes. This curvature effectively reduces the velocity of surface runoff so that sediment bound P suspended in surface runoff can be deposited on the soil surface. Sink areas accrue P inputs but do not lose P to erosion via surface runoff. These areas exhibit linear, non-sloping planes, e.g. flat areas, that are not conducive to surface runoff. Although topographic position explains the spatial dependencies of source and transport factors, the CSA model was able to pinpoint where CSAs of P spatially occur within the agricultural field which can allow for precision P management.

Following over 100 years of agriculture and continuous phosphorus (P) fertilizer application in the south west of Western Australia, there is a growing risk of P transport from cropping and pasture land to streams. However, soil and landscape factors affecting the likelihood of P losses and of stream water contamination have not yet been assessed for the South coast region of Western Australia. The present investigation was conducted in the Fitzgerald River catchment located ~ 400 km south east of Perth, to identify risk of P losses from agricultural land to streams, through an understanding of how P is retained within complex landscapes and released via surface and subsurface flow paths. The 104,000 ha catchment is in a moderately dissected landscape (average annual rainfall 450 mm) and discharges into the World Heritage listed Fitzgerald Biosphere. The main use of cleared land in the catchment is broad-scale agriculture, primarily winter grain cropping and pasture for livestock. The aim of an initial study was to identify the areas with high soil P concentrations and their relationship to factors such as soil type, topography, management (e.g. fertilizer and manure inputs, and uptake by crops or forage) and how variations in soil P concentrations were related to soil physico-chemical properties, P fertilizer management and landscape position. A wide variation in P concentrations was observed across the catchment, but few of the samples exceeded Colwell extractable P levels of 30 mg/kg in the 0-10 cm layer which is regarded as a critical level for crop and pasture productivity. The western area of the catchment, which was cleared earlier (before 1966) than the eastern area had a greater prevalence of loam soils, and higher Colwell-extractable P concentrations (average)22 mg/kg vs. 13 mg P/kg) due to soil type effects and higher P accumulation over time. Risk of P loss from the east and west of the catchment is expected to vary due to textural and topographic differences and P history (P fertilizer input and uptake by crops). The CaCl2-extractable P in the catchment was negatively correlated with oxalate extractable Fe (Feox) in soils. This suggests that P may be transported as particulate P (PP) on loam and clay soils due to sorption of P on oxides surfaces, while on sand soil leaching losses may be more likely. On loam and clay soils, higher sodicity and the dispersive nature of subsoils may increase the risk of both dissolved P (DP) and PP loss due to the effects on hydraulic conductivity of the profile. Hedley's fractionation scheme was used to quantify P fractions in the order of decreasing lability, viz: resin-P > NaOH-Pi > NaOH-Po > acid-P (H2SO4-P) > residual-P. Surface soil had higher resin and NaOH-Pi, which are regarded as water-soluble and readily exchangeable P forms, respectively and expected to contribute to DP in the runoff losses. The residual P was the largest fraction followed by the hydroxide extractable organic-P fraction (NaOH-Po): the former was positively correlated (r) with clay content, organic carbon (OC) and pyrophosphate extractable Fe and Al (0.48**, 0.61**, 0.69** and 0.58**, P < 0.01). A relatively higher value of NaOH-Po in the subsurface layer and positive correlation with OC (r = 0.45**, P < 0.01) suggests potential mobility of P as soluble organic P in run-off, throughflow and leachate. Phosphorus sorption and its relationship to soil properties was used to assess the potential P release from the catchment soils. Values of P sorption maxima varied from 1111-3333 mg/kg for surface soils and 1010-2917 mg/kg for subsoils. The P sorption isotherms conformed better to the Freundlich equation than the Langmuir equation. A highly significant negative correlation between CaCl2 extractable P and Feox in surface soils (r = -0.65**, P < 0.01) suggests that P was bound to hydrated Fe oxide surfaces and this may determine the concentration and dynamics of loosely bound P equilibrating with leachates and eroded particulate materials. On the other hand, high surface organic matter and the high proportion of total dissolved P in organically bound form may inhibit P sorption on clays and sesquioxides, which would increase P mobility through leaching or runoff losses. The relationship between soil P concentration and degree of P stratification in the top 0-10 cm of soils along five toposequences was examined to predict the effect on runoff P losses. The total Colwell-P content of the 0-10 cm layer of soils in the catchment was very low in comparison to other studies on P losses from agricultural soils, but soils showed higher P concentration at 0-1 cm depth compared to 5-10 cm (average 37 mg/kg vs. 19 mg/kg). The higher extractable P concentration in the 0-1 cm layer will create a greater P mobilization risk in surface runoff and leachate than analysis of the 0-10 cm layer might suggest. Assessment of P risk using the 0-10 cm data would still be reliable as P concentration in the 0-1 cm layer was linearly related (R2 = 0.59) with concentration in the 0-10 cm layer. The sampling at varied soil depths will result in different critical P levels for estimating the risk of P enrichment in runoff. In a glasshouse study with intact soil columns, initial high P concentrations in leachate decreased with leaching events suggesting that macropore flow dominated in initial leaching events changing later to matrix flow. The hydraulic behavior of clay and loam soil below 10 cm depends largely on structure and the type of clay minerals and exchangeable Na. Higher levels of exchangeable Na in the subsoil might increase dispersion of clay particles resulting in low permeability leading to ponding of surface water or lateral movement of water at the interface of sand A and clay B horizons. Lateral water movements increase the risk of P losses in the form of DP, dissolved organic P (DOP) or PP. The P concentration in all the P forms (DRP, DOP and TDP) increased significantly with P rates of application (P < 0.01). The DRP concentration was < 2 mg/l in unfertilized columns but an increase to 11 mg/l was observed with P application at 40 kg P/ha. The higher proportion of DOP relative to DRP and its correlation with TDP indicates that the DOP was the major form of P in leachate. However, the estimation of DOP which was by subtraction of DRP from TDP generally overestimates OP concentration. The TDP load from unfertilized soil was < 0.20 mg/l in runoff and < 2.40 mg/l in throughflow but increased with P application (20, 40 kg P/ha) for both packed box and field studies. Under field conditions, higher P loss was found with broadcast P application compared to drill placement. The higher load of DOP as a proportion of TDP and its significant relationship with TDP in runoff (R2sand = 0.81; R2clay = 0.79) and throughflow (R2sand = 0.94; R2clay = 0.98) in field and box studies also suggests DOP was the major form of P loss from soil. Dissolved OP concentration increased significantly with increase in soluble organic carbon (SOC) in soil solution at 5 cm depth (P < 0.05). Consequently, the amount of organic matter dissolved in soil solution may influence P sorption and mobility. Relatively higher affinity of soil for sorption of DRP compared to DOP might allow DOP to be more mobile through the profile. Higher PP load in clay soil in throughflow indicates subsurface lateral flow along the interface with the horizon of dispersive clay might be an additional risk factor regarding P mobility in clay soils of the catchment. The runoff, throughflow and leachate were dominated by eroded particles of clay and colloidal organic materials. However, the soil solution collected though 0.1 m pores in the Rhizon samplers had a similar dominance of DOP to the < 0.45 jum filtered samples in runoff and throughflow. This reduces the likelihood that the so-called DOP fraction was mostly P associated with PP in the 0.1 to 0.45 jum size fraction. The composition of DOP in soil solution collected through Rhizon samplers (< 0.1 jum) might provide important insights for P mobility since this more effectively excluded PP than in the < 0.45 jum filtrate used for runoff and throughflow samples. The DOP in soil solution (< 0.1 jum) might be associated with fine colloidal compound such as silicates, metallic hydroxides, humic acids, polysaccharides, fulvic acids and proteins. If so, then most, but not all of the DOP fraction would be organically bound. However, this requires verification. In conclusion, soil P levels across the catchment were never very high when assessed in the 0-10 cm layer, but levels in the 0-1 cm layer were more than twice as high. Overall, < 1 % of land area of the upper Fitzgerald River catchment had Colwell-P levels > 30 mg/kg (0-10 cm) and hydrological connection to streams. In addition, another 7 % of land had Colwell-P levels > 15 mg/kg, which appears to be a change point in soils for the release of CaCl2 extractable P. These areas, which are predicted to represent critical source areas of the catchment, need careful management. The high proportions of TDP as DOP in runoff, throughflow and soil solution suggest DOP was the major form of P loss from soil. Phosphorus losses from the catchments are also likely in the form of PP in clay and loam soil but leaching losses are more likely in sand. High exchangeable Na in the subsoil of loam and clay soils increases dispersion of clay particles resulting in low permeability of subsoil and greater lateral P mobility as throughflow at the interface of sand and clay textured horizons. In general, soils of Fitzgerald River catchment had low soil P, but nevertheless significant risk of P loss at Colwell-P > 15 mg/kg. This study provides baseline information for P loss risks in the wheatbelt of WA. Stream water quality monitoring instruments were installed in the upper Fitzgerald River Catchment at 5 stream locations by CSIRO to measure base line concentrations of P. The measured P concentrations were higher than ANZECC trigger values (> 0.05 mg P/l) for management response over the three-year monitoring period (2005-07). Hence this and many other catchments on the south coast and wheatbelt of south west Western Australia need assessment for P loss risks. Previous emphasis in south west Western Australia on P losses from sandy coastal soils under pasture may need to be reconsidered. In the South coast region, cropping land in the medium rainfall zone may still represent a risk of P loss to waterways and risk to water quality. The present study evaluated the risk of P loss based on soil P forms and their mobility. It suggests greater attention needs to be given to the difference between clay and loam soils with dispersive or non-dispersive sub-soils, and to the composition and mobility of DOP. However, a more complete understanding of P loss risks depends on follow-up studies on hydrological flow and connectivity in the upper Fitzgerald River catchment and similar landscapes of south west Western Australia.

Since agriculture began, field management has been at the forefront of expanding food production beyond previous limitations. Agricultural productivity is closely related to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Landscape position and field management are among primary factors affecting these soil properties. Delineation of topographic positions of the field surface by shape (i.e., convex, concave, and linear) characterizes areas that may accumulate or lose soil and nutrients either during a discrete event or cumulatively over several growing seasons. Increased soil compaction, degradation of soil structure, and erosion have all been attributed to declining agricultural production. In addition to the physical disturbance from cultivation, erosion and deposition of soil components in different landscape positions explain a large part of the heterogeneity of soil properties across an agriculture field. In response to this, conservation tillage techniques, precision agriculture, and other novel management strategies have been developed to reduce negative impacts conventional row crop production such as nutrient pollution and compaction while optimizing farmer inputs. The objective of this project was to evaluate effects of topographic position and conservation tillage techniques on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties on the field scale as well as correlate certain soil attributes with suspended soil runoff collected during the sprinkle infiltration test. Soil fertility sampling was completed every fall from 2011 to 2014 and additional sampling of soil physical properties was taken in the spring between 2013 and 2014. Differences between fall conservation tillage treatments, no-till (NT), AerWay® aerator (AA), and Great Plains Turbo-Till® (GP), and topographic positons, concave, convex and linear were analyzed. Sediment runoff and earthworm biomass were also collected in the fall in 2014. Results indicated a significant increase of soil organic matter (12%-24%), water stable aggregates (78%-98%), phosphorus (43%-76%), and cation exchange capacity (28%-35%) within concave over the convex landscape positions. Soil strength was significantly lower in the field managed with the GP vertical tillage disk compared with the AA field to a depth of 27.5 cm and the NT field to depth of 17.5 cm. Crop residue coverage (percent covered) was more complete in the NT field (12%) and the GP field (3%) compared with the AA field. Suspended sediment runoff was negatively correlated with water-stable aggregates, Ca, and Mg, but positively correlated with earthworm biomass. Extractable nutrients and soil physical properties were also strongly affected by air temperature and precipitation throughout the study period. Characterizing soil properties within topographic positions has potential applications in precision agriculture management, such as reducing excessive fertilization, and identifying areas of increased pollution potential. Evaluation of the tandem effects of conservation tillage tools and topographic position within central Illinois is important in order for the optimization of production and conservation of resources. Physical disturbance from tillage and the transport of sediment from eroded areas to depositional topographic positions are key factors influencing the variability of soil properties, crop productivity, and potential sediment-borne nutrient pollution within individual agricultural fields.

Simulating the processes of rainfall and runoff are at the core of hydrologic modeling. Geomorphologic features, rainfall variability, soil types, and water table depths strongly influence hydrological process in Florida ecosystems. Topographic characteristics of the terrain define the stream paths and landscape. Alteration of these characteristics as a result of urban and/or agricultural developments, for example, can highly influence wetlands and river basin response. There are two predominant landforms in Florida: wetlands, where Variable Saturated Areas form near streams causing saturation excess runoff, and uplands where runoff is mainly generated by infiltration excess. The objective of this work is to analyze the impacts of geomorphologic and hydrologic characteristics on runoff mechanisms in humid environments such as Florida. In general, most research at the hillslope scale use hypothetical values of rainfall, sometimes non-realistic values, and single slope forms to explain the geomorphic and hydrologic process on Variable Saturated Areas. In this thesis, the complexity of hillslope processes on actual Florida topography is assessed by coupling a Digital Elevation Model with a two-dimensional variable saturated-unsaturated flow model called HYDRUS-2D. Actual rainfall records and soil parameters from the Characterization Data for Selected Florida Soils, Soil Survey were used to evaluate hydrologic impacts. A commercial software package, River Tools was used to display and extract topographic information from the Digital Elevation Models. Results show that when inflitration excess runoff is dominant, infiltration and runoff are very sensitive to time resolution, especially for convective storms. When saturation excess occurs, runoff is not affected by rainfall intensity. However, saturated hydraulic conductivity, depth to the water table, slope and curvature highly influence the extent of Variable Saturated Areas. Results indicate runoff in shallow water table environments is produced mainly by subsurface storm runoff, running below the surface, except in hillslopes with concave curvature and mild slopes. Additionally, concave hillslopes generate more saturation excess runoff than straight and convex hillslopes.

No description available.

Análises isotópicas de Nd, Sr e Pb forneceram registros sobre a proveniência dos sedimentos de dois testemunhos da plataforma continental da região sudeste do Brasil. No testemunho CF, os sedimentos registraram valores médios de \'E IND.Nd(0)\' de -17,5, idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) em torno de 1,8 Ga e valores médios das razões \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/ \'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' de 18,7. Os sedimentos do testemunho ST mostraram valores médios de \'E IND.Nd(0)\' de -10,5, idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) próximas a 1,4Ga e valores médios das razões \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/ \'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' de 18,8. A análise conjunta dos sistemas isotópicosutilizados na presente pesquisa evidenciou uma distinção entre as rochas fontes do testemunho CF e ST. As rochas de terrenos metamórficos de alto a médio grau, principalmente os metassedimentos drenados pela bacia hidrográfica do Rio Paraíba do Sul (RPS), inseridos no contexto geológico do Cinturão Ribeira, foram identificados como principais fontes de sedimentos para o testemunho CF, indicando uma influência marcante do aporte fluvialna sedimentação da plataforma continental brasileira ao largo do Cabo Frio-RJ. Sugere-se na presente pesquisa que o transporte dossedimentos provenientes do RPS para a região de localização do testemunho CF, vem sendo facilitado pela ação dos ventos de NE associados com a Alta Subtropical do Atlântico Sul (ASAS), os quais também influenciariam os vórtices ciclônicos da Corrente do Brasil (CB), a penetração da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e consequentemente a distribuição dos sedimentos na plataforma continental sob influência destes mecanismos, após 3000 anos cal. AP. As composições isotópicas de Pb, Nd e Sr dos sedimentos do testemunho ST mostraram-se semelhantes às das rochas da Bacia do Paraná, principalmente da Formação Bauru. As assinaturas isotópicas e idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) de sedimentos provenientes dos estuários dos rios La Plata e Mampituba, os quais drenam rochas da Bacia do Paraná, também apresentaram valores semelhantes às dos sedimentos do testemunho ST, indicando que estes poderiam ser provenientes da mistura de material erodido de rochas básicas, no caso, de basaltos toleíticos de baixo \'TIO IND.2\', com rochas dos terrenos metamórficos de médio a alto grau, inseridas no contexto geológico do Cinturão Ribeira, provavelmente durante a época de sedimentação da Bacia Bauru (Cretáceo). A semelhança na composição isotópica dos sedimentosdo estuário do Rio La Plata e do testemunho ST agrega indícios para dizer que o transporte das frações granulométricas mais finas provenientes da Bacia do Paraná, para regiões da plataforma continental do sudeste do Brasil, poderia ser facilitada pela dinâmica da pluma do Rio La Plata, a qual seria transportada para norte sob influênciada movimentação da Corrente Costeira do Brasil (CCB). Os resultados da atual pesquisa sugerem que as mudanças nas características isotópicas dos sedimentos, observadas ao longo dos testemunhos CF e ST, entre o Holoceno Médio e Superior, estariam 20 associadas primariamente com mudanças no sistema climático à ação dos ciclos astronômicos de insolação de precessão, na escala de tempo milenar. / Nd, Sr and Pb isotopic analysis from two sediment cores from the continental shelf off the southeastern region of Brazil provided records of the provenance of its sediments. Sediments from CF core recorded \'E IND.Nd(0)\' average values of -17.5, Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages around 1.8 Ga and mean values for \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/\'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' reasons of 18.7. The sediments from ST core showed \'E IND.Nd(0)\' average values of -10.5, Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages close to 1.4 Ga and mean values for \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/\'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' reasons of 18.8. The analysis of the isotopic systems used on this study showed a distinction between the source rocks of CF and ST cores. The medium and high grademetamorphic basement rocks mainly constituted of metasediments drained by the hydrographic basin of Paraíba do Sul river, inserted in Ribeira Belt are the main sources of the sediments from the CF core, indicating a strong influence of river inflow in the sedimentation of the brazilian continental shelf off Cape Frio (RJ). The distribution of Paraíba do Sul river sediments into the plataform uppon regions located south of its mouth, would be facilitated by the action of NE winds associated with the South Atlantic Subtropical High (SAS), which also could influence the cyclonic vortices of Brazilian Current (CB), the penetration of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and consequently the didtribution of sediments on the continental shelf under the influence of such mechanisms, mainly for the last ca. 3000 years BP. Pb, Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of the sediments from the ST core seem to be similar to the ones from the rocks of the Paraná Basin, mainly from Bauru Formation. These sediments could be derived from the mixture of eroded material from basic rocks, in the case of low-\'TiO IND. 2\' tholeiitic basalts with medium to high grade metamorphic rocks of Ribeira Belt, probably during the time of the Bauru basin sedimentation (Cretaceous). The isotopic signaturesand Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages of sediments from La Plata and Mampituba river estuaries, which drain rocks of the Paraná Basin, are similar to those recorded in the ST core. These similarities add evidence to say that the transport of the sediment finer size fractions from the Paraná Basin to the brasilian southeasterncontinental shelf could be facilitated by the dynamics of La Plata plume, which is transported northwards under the influence of the Brazilian Coastal Current movement. The results of the current study suggest that changes in sedimentation, observed over the CF and ST cores, between the Middle and Upper Holocene, could be primarily associated to climatic changes to the action of the precessional insolation astronomical cycles.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 123 pages. / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Simulating the processes of rainfall and runoff are at the core of hydrologic modeling. Geomorphologic features, rainfall variability, soil types, and water table depths strongly influence hydrological process in Florida ecosystems. Topographic characteristics of the terrain define the stream paths and landscape. Alteration of these characteristics as a result of urban and/or agricultural developments, for example, can highly influence wetlands and river basin response. There are two predominant landforms in Florida: wetlands, where Variable Saturated Areas form near streams causing saturation excess runoff, and uplands where runoff is mainly generated by infiltration excess. The objective of this work is to analyze the impacts of geomorphologic and hydrologic characteristics on runoff mechanisms in humid environments such as Florida. In general, most research at the hillslope scale use hypothetical values of rainfall, sometimes non-realistic values, and single slope forms to explain the geomorphic and hydrologic process on Variable Saturated Areas. In this thesis, the complexity of hillslope processes on actual Florida topography is assessed by coupling a Digital Elevation Model with a two-dimensional variable saturated-unsaturated flow model called HYDRUS-2D. Actual rainfall records and soil parameters from the Characterization Data for Selected Florida Soils, Soil Survey were used to evaluate hydrologic impacts. A commerical software package, River Tools was used to display and extract topographic information from the Digital Elevation Models.Results show that when inflitration excess runoff is dominant, infiltration and runoff are very sensitive to time resolution, especially for convective storms. When saturation excess occurs, runoff is not affected by rainfall intensity. However, saturated hydraulic conductivity, depth to the water table, slope and curvature highly influence the extent of Variable Saturated Areas. Results indicate runoff in shallow water table environments is produced mainly by subsurface storm runoff, running below the surface, except in hillslopes with concave curvature and mild slopes. Additionally, concave hillslopes generate more saturation excess runoff than straight and convex hillslopes. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Análises isotópicas de Nd, Sr e Pb forneceram registros sobre a proveniência dos sedimentos de dois testemunhos da plataforma continental da região sudeste do Brasil. No testemunho CF, os sedimentos registraram valores médios de \'E IND.Nd(0)\' de -17,5, idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) em torno de 1,8 Ga e valores médios das razões \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/ \'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' de 18,7. Os sedimentos do testemunho ST mostraram valores médios de \'E IND.Nd(0)\' de -10,5, idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) próximas a 1,4Ga e valores médios das razões \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/ \'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' de 18,8. A análise conjunta dos sistemas isotópicosutilizados na presente pesquisa evidenciou uma distinção entre as rochas fontes do testemunho CF e ST. As rochas de terrenos metamórficos de alto a médio grau, principalmente os metassedimentos drenados pela bacia hidrográfica do Rio Paraíba do Sul (RPS), inseridos no contexto geológico do Cinturão Ribeira, foram identificados como principais fontes de sedimentos para o testemunho CF, indicando uma influência marcante do aporte fluvialna sedimentação da plataforma continental brasileira ao largo do Cabo Frio-RJ. Sugere-se na presente pesquisa que o transporte dossedimentos provenientes do RPS para a região de localização do testemunho CF, vem sendo facilitado pela ação dos ventos de NE associados com a Alta Subtropical do Atlântico Sul (ASAS), os quais também influenciariam os vórtices ciclônicos da Corrente do Brasil (CB), a penetração da Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS) e consequentemente a distribuição dos sedimentos na plataforma continental sob influência destes mecanismos, após 3000 anos cal. AP. As composições isotópicas de Pb, Nd e Sr dos sedimentos do testemunho ST mostraram-se semelhantes às das rochas da Bacia do Paraná, principalmente da Formação Bauru. As assinaturas isotópicas e idades modelo Sm-Nd (TDM) de sedimentos provenientes dos estuários dos rios La Plata e Mampituba, os quais drenam rochas da Bacia do Paraná, também apresentaram valores semelhantes às dos sedimentos do testemunho ST, indicando que estes poderiam ser provenientes da mistura de material erodido de rochas básicas, no caso, de basaltos toleíticos de baixo \'TIO IND.2\', com rochas dos terrenos metamórficos de médio a alto grau, inseridas no contexto geológico do Cinturão Ribeira, provavelmente durante a época de sedimentação da Bacia Bauru (Cretáceo). A semelhança na composição isotópica dos sedimentosdo estuário do Rio La Plata e do testemunho ST agrega indícios para dizer que o transporte das frações granulométricas mais finas provenientes da Bacia do Paraná, para regiões da plataforma continental do sudeste do Brasil, poderia ser facilitada pela dinâmica da pluma do Rio La Plata, a qual seria transportada para norte sob influênciada movimentação da Corrente Costeira do Brasil (CCB). Os resultados da atual pesquisa sugerem que as mudanças nas características isotópicas dos sedimentos, observadas ao longo dos testemunhos CF e ST, entre o Holoceno Médio e Superior, estariam 20 associadas primariamente com mudanças no sistema climático à ação dos ciclos astronômicos de insolação de precessão, na escala de tempo milenar. / Nd, Sr and Pb isotopic analysis from two sediment cores from the continental shelf off the southeastern region of Brazil provided records of the provenance of its sediments. Sediments from CF core recorded \'E IND.Nd(0)\' average values of -17.5, Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages around 1.8 Ga and mean values for \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/\'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' reasons of 18.7. The sediments from ST core showed \'E IND.Nd(0)\' average values of -10.5, Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages close to 1.4 Ga and mean values for \'ANTPOT.206 Pb\'/\'ANTPOT.204 Pb\' reasons of 18.8. The analysis of the isotopic systems used on this study showed a distinction between the source rocks of CF and ST cores. The medium and high grademetamorphic basement rocks mainly constituted of metasediments drained by the hydrographic basin of Paraíba do Sul river, inserted in Ribeira Belt are the main sources of the sediments from the CF core, indicating a strong influence of river inflow in the sedimentation of the brazilian continental shelf off Cape Frio (RJ). The distribution of Paraíba do Sul river sediments into the plataform uppon regions located south of its mouth, would be facilitated by the action of NE winds associated with the South Atlantic Subtropical High (SAS), which also could influence the cyclonic vortices of Brazilian Current (CB), the penetration of the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and consequently the didtribution of sediments on the continental shelf under the influence of such mechanisms, mainly for the last ca. 3000 years BP. Pb, Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of the sediments from the ST core seem to be similar to the ones from the rocks of the Paraná Basin, mainly from Bauru Formation. These sediments could be derived from the mixture of eroded material from basic rocks, in the case of low-\'TiO IND. 2\' tholeiitic basalts with medium to high grade metamorphic rocks of Ribeira Belt, probably during the time of the Bauru basin sedimentation (Cretaceous). The isotopic signaturesand Sm-Nd (TDM) model ages of sediments from La Plata and Mampituba river estuaries, which drain rocks of the Paraná Basin, are similar to those recorded in the ST core. These similarities add evidence to say that the transport of the sediment finer size fractions from the Paraná Basin to the brasilian southeasterncontinental shelf could be facilitated by the dynamics of La Plata plume, which is transported northwards under the influence of the Brazilian Coastal Current movement. The results of the current study suggest that changes in sedimentation, observed over the CF and ST cores, between the Middle and Upper Holocene, could be primarily associated to climatic changes to the action of the precessional insolation astronomical cycles.